The Role of Mosque in Islam

Most religions have places for their worships, in religion Islam, there is a Mosque for worship. A mosque is a place where Muslims worship and pray to Allah Almighty. In Arabic Mosque is called a Masjid or Jami. The mosque is a kind of any house or open area where Muslims offer Salah (Nimaz) in the congregation. Some mosques are also used as places where Muslims get together and discuss things or where religious education takes place. It is not only a place for praying, but it’s also the center of the community and where many wonderful pieces of Islamic art have been created.

It is required for all Muslim men to attend mosque on Friday for Jummah prayer. Muslims also offer five times prayer in Mosque also come and learn about the Islamic faith, about the teachings of the Holy Quran with learning how to read and pronounce it from Ulama. Muslims are required to give money to charity they often donate it at mosques.

There are many rules that worshippers must obey when they are in a mosque. In most mosques, a religious leader called Imam is in charge of praying. Muslims must clean themselves before they enter into a mosque. There are washing areas where they can make wudu before entering the prayer hall. The floors of such a hall are normally covered with a carpet. It is not allowed to step on it with shoes as Muslims offer Salah on it. Loud talking is forbidden in mosques. It is also disrespectful to walk in front of Muslims who are praying.

The first mosques were modeled on the place of worship of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) the courtyard of his house at Medina. Those were simply plots of ground marked out as sacred. Though the mosque as such has undergone many architectural changes, the building remains essentially an open space, generally roofed over, containing a Mihrab and a Minbar. A common feature of many mosques is a minaret, a tall thin tower that is usually located at one of the corners. From the minaret, a muezzin or Imam proclaims call to worship (Adhan) five times each day.

The prayer hall of Masjid normally does not have any benches or chairs. Worshippers pray in rows facing Holy Kaaba which is center towards which Muslims around the world face and offer prayer. There are no pictures on the walls of Mosques. Some mosques show verses of the Quran on the walls to assist worshippers. Every mosque has a Mihrab, a niche in the wall that points to the Holy Kaaba. From Minbar the imam delivers his speech.

Prayers in mosques with congregation are considered the best way of offering prayers to Allah Almighty. Most of the Muslims prefer to offer prayer in congregation and avoid individual prayers for fear of using wrong ways. We all should try to offer prayers with the congregation in mosques for getting greater rewards in the best manner.

source: quranreading.com/blog

Be familiar with the reality of Islam

Be familiar with the reality of Islam

Islam is not basically synonym of peace, but some of the follower make it as the synonym of war. Its not true, in Saudi Arabia, lots of the Non-Muslims come to the pilgrimage to visit it, by getting Hajj packages. Islam is the remotest rising religion in this complete world. What has detailed people concerned, is not so much as the growing of the faith, but the beliefs that lots of, who are waged, Islam are holding and collective forth to others. 

Islam is Fascist in that it overwhelms any other technique of thought, as well as other mystical beliefs and often does so with fears of violence. Those, who contend against Islam can be exposed to murder in some of the countries, even in the western conditions, where there is a mutual belief that all trusts are welcome to be skilful. While in the West, churches, temples and mosques are built to provide accommodations all religious beliefs, in this country, even the practice of Christianity or other faiths is not only forbidden, but actually illegal by death.

In other countries, meaning of Islam:

The Non-Muslims reflect Islam as it is not very lenient of every other religion. In durable Islamic states, such as Saudi Arabia, there are no other beliefs or religion is permissible to be accomplished other than Islam. This is seen as an insult to the Islamic religion. It is permitted for the non-muslim public to checked out the packages of Umrah packages from UK.

Islam is convicted so bitterly by non-Muslims:

Everything that is understood, as an affront to Islam is condemned so bitterly by those zealots in the Islamic world that people related to the western states, who have shaped lots of films or even drawn cartoons and written books, have been obvious for death. People are scared of illustrative something negative about Islam, for the reason that they are scared of getting a Fatwa issued in incongruity of them, which is good-looking much like an old obligatory dead or active poster that used to inspire plenty hunters to track down and kill criminals. The single variation is that with a fatwa, the person is compulsory dead, not alive. 

Author Salmon Rushdie was a requisite man after he issued his book The Satanic Verses and had to go into beating for the reason, that of his picture of Islam. In fascist states, art procedures such as books and films are often the first to go - Hitler got ongoing burning books that were compared to his way of thinking as well. In fascist states, there is, but one way of balanced and any individualism from this sort of rational is unlawful by care at best, death at worst. This is seen as an extra of a threat than horror bouts by many in the west, who like independence of trust as well as other basic autonomies that they have had all of their lives. They do not want to submit to Islam, even though, most of those in the western states do not care if others request to practice this faith.

source: cheapumrahpackage2014.blogspot.com

Journey to Islam

Journey to Islam

Mark Shaffer, an American attorney, and millionaire has declared his Islam in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, 17th October 2009. Mark was at that time on a holiday in Saudi Arabia to visit some famous cities like Riyadh, Abha, and Jeddah for 10 days.

Mark is a well-known millionaire and also a practiced lawyer in Los Angeles, specializing in cases of civil laws. The last big case he handled was the case of the famous American pop singer, Michael Jackson, a week before he passed away.

A tourist guide who accompanied Mark for 10 days in Saudi Arabia, Dhawi Ben Nashir said, “Since he set foot for the first time in Saudi Arabia, Mark already started to ask questions about Islam and the prayer. As soon as he arrived in Saudi Arabia, Mark stayed in Riyadh for two days. While in Riyadh, Mark was very interested in Islam. After moving to Najran, we went to Abha and Al-Ula. There, his fascination for Islam grew more obvious, especially the time when we ventured out into the desert.”

“Mark was amazed to see three Saudi youths who were in our group in Al-Ula, performing the prayer in the expanse of the very wide desert; a very fantastic panorama indeed.”

“After two days in Al-Ula, we went to Al-Juf. As soon as we arrived in Al-Juf, Mark asked if I could get him some books on Islam. I then obtained some books on Islam for him. Mark read all those books. The next morning, he asked me to teach him how to perform the prayer. I then taught him how to pray and make wudhu (ablution). Then, he joined me and performed the prayer beside me.”

“After prayer, Mark told me that he felt peace in his soul. On Thursday afternoon, we left Al-Ula heading for Jeddah. He looked very serious throughout the journey reading those books about Islam. On Friday morning, we visited the old town of Jeddah. Before the time for the Friday prayer approached, we went back to the hotel and I excused myself to go for the Friday prayer.”

Mark said to his companion, “I would like to join you for the Friday prayer so that I can witness myself how the Friday prayer is like.”

His friend, Dhawi Ben Nashir, welcomed the idea.

Dhawi Ben Nashir said, “We then went to a masjid which was not far from the hotel where we stayed in Jeddah. Since we were quite late, I and many others had to pray outside, as the number of worshippers was overflowing. I could see Mark observing the people in the congregation, especially after the Friday prayer was completed when everybody was shaking hands and embracing each other with radiant and happy faces. Mark was very impressed with what he saw.”

“When we returned to the hotel, Mark suddenly told me that he wanted to become a Muslim. So I said to him, ‘Please take a shower first.’ After Mark took the shower, I guided him in saying the shahadah (declaration of faith) and then he prayed two rakaah. Later on, Mark expressed his desire to visit the Grand Mosque in Makkah and perform prayers there before leaving Saudi Arabia.”

“In order to fulfill his wish, we went to the Da’wah Center in Jeddah to obtain a formal proof of his conversion to Islam, so that he would be allowed to enter the city of Makkah and the Grand Mosque. Mark was given a temporary certificate of his conversion to Islam, and he visited the holy city of Makkah.”

After Mark declared his Islamic faith, he had the chance to express his experience to Al-Riyadh Newspaper, saying, “I could not express my feelings at this time but I am being reborn and my life has just started. I am very happy. This happiness that I am feeling could not be expressed in words, especially when I visited the Grand Mosque and noble Ka’bah.”

Regarding his next step after his conversion to Islam, Mark explained that he wants to learn more about Islam, delve deeper into the religion of Allah (Islam), and come back to Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj.

As to what impelled him into converting to Islam, Mark explained, “I already had information about Islam, but it was very limited. When I visited Saudi Arabia and personally witnessed the Muslims there, and saw how they performed the prayer, I felt a very strong drive to know more about Islam. When I read true information about Islam, I became confident that Islam is a religion of Haq (truth).”

Sunday morning, 18th October 2009, Mark left the Airport of King Abdul Aziz Jeddah heading for America. When filling in the immigration form before leaving Jeddah, Mark wrote ISLAM as his religion. — Courtesy of Discovering Islam.

source: saudigazette.com.sa/

Over 2m flock to Mina as Hajj begins

arabnews.com

Over 2m flock to Mina as Hajj begins 

MINA: More than 2 million Muslims from around the world arrived in Mina to spend the day of Tarwiyah and follow the footsteps of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Pilgrims will then head to Mount Arafat on Thursday.

Thousands of security men accompanied the flows of pilgrims along Mina’s wide roads, bridges and tunnels. The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) mission at the holy sites monitored the pilgrims heading from Makkah to Mina. Their journey went smoothly despite the huge number of vehicles and pedestrians. Traffic patrols were assisted by security forces in their efforts to organize the traffic, guide pilgrims and maintain security.

The Ministry of Health is offering medical and health care services to pilgrims during this year’s Hajj season by providing thousands of doctors, nurses and specialists appointed to serve pilgrims. These members work at hospitals near the holy sites and Makkah. The ministry assists the relevant authorities in carrying out the general emergency plan and dealing with emergencies that might arise during the pilgrims’ stop in Mina and Jamaarat bridge.

Along with the ministry, medical service departments of the National Guard Ministry, and the Defense Ministry and its hospitals appointed hundreds of their members to offer medical and treatment services to pilgrims at the holy sites.

The Saudi Red Crescent Authority (SRCA) is providing its services through thousands of members appointed to serve Hajjis. The organization designated a fleet of 100 ambulances spread throughout the holy sites.

Source: arabnews.com

Haj: A sight to behold

Haj: A sight to behold

Haj is on (the day after tomorrow) and there is no more beautiful sight than the sight of the hundreds of thousands of Muslims coming from all entry points, dressed in white and with one mission, to perform their once in a lifetime duty in peace and security. We as, the government of Saudi Arabia and its people, take full pride in welcoming the guests of Allah and embrace them with open arms.

Saudi Arabia has mobilized all its resources, like it does every year, to ensure that pilgrims will perform their pilgrimage in peace and comfort. All sectors — government departments, passport, security, Haj, health and many other ancillary divisions — are on full alert. And they are ready to work in concerted unison to implement the Haj plan that usually is in the making as soon as the last Haj ends. The seamless cooperation is evident in the growing numbers of Muslims lauding the plan and thanking the Kingdom for the great effort in making their once in a lifetime journey comfortable.

The government, at the same time, while extending the hand of hospitality, too displays its iron fist. The government has also made it clear to all that an iron fist is strong and ready to crush anything that targets the safety of pilgrims and to ensure a smooth and comfortable Haj for the guests of Allah.

The sight of pilgrims eagerly arriving to the two holy cities is really touching and endearing. It really warms the cockles of the heart to see many pictures of pilgrims in tears of joy and happiness on their faces on landing in the holy land. Some of them have been waiting for many years in queue in their countries to be able to perform Haj. Some have labored and saved all their money over the years and some have sold all their valuables to be able to cover the expenses to perform Haj.

It is said in the Holy Qur’an, “And Haj (pilgrimage to Makkah) to the House (Kabaa) is a duty that mankind owes to Allah, those who can afford the expenses (for one’s conveyance, provision and residence)”. Although it is not obligatory for Muslims, who are not able financially, to perform Haj but in order to do so, many people will go to extreme measures to ensure that they are able to do it, even if they were financially unable.

This brings me back to my main point I hope to highlight — poor people performing Haj. I wish that businessmen in all Muslim countries come up with a way to fulfill the wishes of making the impossible dream of poor pilgrims performing Haj come true by covering the costs of pilgrims. To be fair and from what I know, there are businessmen in Saudi Arabia who donate money secretly and without revealing their identity to cover the costs of many poor pilgrims.

I am sure that some similar good Samaritans exist in other Muslim countries, but this form of giving should be intensified to cover as many number as possible of the financially underprivileged. The biggest reward they get is in this lifetime itself when they see the bloom of pure happiness on the faces of those who get to do the once in lifetime journey to the two Holy Mosques and the Holy Sites.

In a previous article, I had written, “I call on the authorities to come up with a way to make Haj affordable for middle- and low-income people. It is a fact that Haj campaigns are overpriced for many, especially people with large number of family members. Given how life is expensive in some countries in Europe and even in America, or how low salaries are in some Muslim and poor countries, many of them find it almost impossible to fulfill the lifetime duty of Haj because of financial reasons.

“What if the authorities and some philanthropists came together to sponsor those who are facing difficulties in saving up for Haj? This could go a long way in embellishing the Kingdom’s image as a humane nation. Haj package providers should know that it is an honor to serve pilgrims and they should have a package that charges for the basic cost and not such that it earns an enormous profit for them.”

It is also good to see that the level of awareness of the domestic pilgrims is increasing and that the number of pilgrims without permits is on the decline. In the past, pilgrims without permits squatted around the Holy Sites and in main roads creating all sorts of problems. The level of organization by the security authorities and other government departments working in Haj is improving and tackling these issues.

With the sustained and planned expansion program at the Two Holy Mosques, the Kingdom is already alleviating the pressures of the numbers. This year it has increased the number of pilgrims for all countries and with future expansion Saudi Arabia will be ready to welcome more pilgrims. With all the systems and people in place, I am confident of a successful Haj this year and pray to God for a safe and peaceful Haj for all pilgrims.

Blurb: I wish that businessmen in all Muslim countries come up with a way to fulfill the wishes of making the impossible dream of poor pilgrims performing Haj come true by covering the costs of pilgrims.

source: saudigazette.com.sa

Pilgrim numbers up 24% over last year

Pilgrim numbers up 24% over last year

JEDDAH: The number of pilgrims arriving via air, land and sea entry points until Friday reached 1.07 million, an increase of 204,302, or 24 percent, compared to the same period last year.

The numbers of pilgrims arriving by air, land and sea were 1.015 million, 50,554 and 4,915 respectively, according to data released by the General Directorate of Passports.
On Sunday, the number of pilgrims arriving in Madinah stood at 32,468, while those leaving the city for Makkah reached 24,073, according to the National Guides Establishment in Madinah.
The number of pilgrims who remained in Madinah up to Sunday evening reached 201,101, compared to 175,676 in the same period last year.
Presiding over a meeting on Civil Defense plans for Hajj, the director general of the Civil Defense, Gen. Sulaiman Al-Amro, emphasized the importance of raising the sense of security, and of not tolerating any excesses or violations of safety requirements.
The commander of Civil Defense forces for Hajj, Maj. Gen. Hamad bin Abdul Aziz Al-Mubaddal, gave a visual presentation on the Civil Defense’s preparations and plans, and the readiness and positioning of forces at the holy sites.

source: arabnews.com